Empire Earth is one crash course in social studies you'll
gladly stay conscious for.
The PC/online game spans 500,000 years of human history and extends well
into the 24th century, locking up to eight potential commanders in chief
in endless battle.

Vibrant 3-D graphics supply realistic settings
as players simultaneously command air, ground, and
sea units. How the conflicts unfold, from blitzkrieg to surgical strike,
depend on one's appetite for mayhem. But regardless of tactics, you can
take perverse pleasure in watching squadrons - from elephant riders to
giant robots - fight and die at your behest.

Empire Earth bridges the gap between realism and fun with
finesse, and cameos from 20 legendary heroes like Hannibal and Gilgamesh
keep it exciting. That it demands a sizable time investment is
a necessary evil. Nearly four hours passed before I saw
the light at the end of an era.